ALBANIA: ALBANIA DECLARES A DAY OF MOURNING FOR REFUGEES DROWNED IN A COLLISION OFF THE ITALIAN COAST

Record ID: 275239

  • Title: ALBANIA: ALBANIA DECLARES A DAY OF MOURNING FOR REFUGEES DROWNED IN A COLLISION OFF THE ITALIAN COAST
  • Date: 31st March 1997
  • Summary: (MARCH 31, 1997) TIRANA, ALBANIA (RTV (W) - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV SKANDERBERG SQUARE WITH FLAG AT HALF MAST 0.11 2. LAS EXT OF ORTHODOX CHURCH 0.18 3. SV VARIOUS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS LIGHTING CANDLES IN CHURCH (4 SHOTS) 0.41 4. SCU ITALIAN AMBASSADOR PAOLO FORESTI SAYING I UNDERSTAND THE STRONG EMOTIONS FELT BY THE AL
  • Embargoed: 15th April 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TIRANA AND VLORE, ALBANIA
  • City:
  • Country: Albania
  • Reuters ID: LVABO26YWQ592M5D7U6XTXMP2RGK
  • Story Text: INTRO: Albania has declared a day of mourning for refugees drowned in a collision off the Italian coast.

    In the southern port of Vlore, the local rebel governement said they would not accept any foreign protection force -- especially not Italian forces.

    Albanian President Sali Berisha on Monday (March 31)ordered the national flag to fly at half mast across the country as a sign of respect.

    He called for a minute's silence at midday (1000 GMT) and asked motorists to blast horns to mourn the 83 people whom Tirana says drowned when their crammed vessel sank in the Adriatic after a collision with an Italian patrol ship.

    Tirana demanded an investigation as Friday's sinking cast a shadow over Italy's leadership of a United Nations (U.N.) -approved force to protect aid shipments to Albania.

    The Italian Ambassador to Albanian, Paolo Foresti, said he understood the strong emotions felt by Albanians, but parliament had accepted the need for military and police assitance.

    Thirty-four people survived the sinking. Only four bodies have been recovered.

    The Salvation Committee of the People of Vlore (local rebel government) met on Monday (March 31) in Vlore and decided that they would not accept any foreign protection force and especially not Italian forces.

    The committee announced they would create their own protection force which would consist of 600 ex-military from the area.

    After the meeting the committee representatives announced the decision and held a speech in front of rally of 3,000 people from Vlore and surrounding villages.

    About 700 women escorted by men walked from Vlore town centre to the port for a memorial service to commemorate the refugees who drowned.


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